There is no question that fish oil is the number one source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil supplements outnumber all other omega-3 supplements in the market today. Fish oil supplements are becoming popular with people who are not keen on eating fish or seafood but are attracted to the health benefits it gives. Fish oil supplements are sourced from cold fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, shark liver, cod liver, tuna, sardines and other open water fish. Although fish oil is the number one source, there are questions about its sustainability and its purity. Environmentalist and experts are worried about over-fishing that can bring imbalance in the marine food chain. It can also affect us because fish is one of our main food sources. There are also worries about its purity because some fish oil is made of fish by products and some processes may lower the effectiveness of the fish oil.
Mercury builds up and other industrial contaminants are also concerns because of due to a number of news and articles claiming of mercury build up in open-water fish. This concern is very common but there are studies made that states most of the widely available supplements contain little or no mercury, PCBs, dioxins and other contaminants. Most companies are using fish that are “low on the food chain” like sardines and cod that accumulates less contaminants specifically mercury, plus most companies distill their fish oils to remove contaminants. There are other omega-3 sources that will fit every health buff. Let’s discuss the alternative sources.
1. Krill oil.
A krill is a small crustacean and is found in the world’s oceans. Krill is considered an important part of the food chain. They are at the tropic level near the bottom of the food chain. This small crustaceans feed on phytoplanktons and zooplankton. They convert them into a format that is suitable for many larger animals as their own food source. Krill oil is sourced from the different species of krill, one of them is Antarctic krill. Most are harvested from farms. Two of the most important nutrients of krill oil is omega-3 fatty acids that are similar to fish oil and phospholipid-derived fatty acids. Krill also contains the antioxidant astaxanthin which gives krill and other crustaceans their pink or orange color.
2. Squid/calamari oil.
This is the third most popular source of omega-3. Calamari oil is a new source of omega-3 fatty acid. Based on actual research and studies, calamari oil was found to have higher levels of omega-3 specifically DHA and EPA as compared to fish oil and krill oil. It is also more sustainable because squid reproduces early and are caught in a traditional way. Lines and large nets are used in catching calamari as compared to fish which are caught using an industrial sized net. Calamari oil is sourced from the 10% food-grade calamari that is caught annually. Two million tons of calamari are caught each year and 200,000 are processed and manufactured to be calamari oil.
3. Algae oil.
This source will best fit vegans and vegetarians and for people who’s not into fish, krill or squid oil. Algae oil supplements will have the same omega-3 levels as fish oil or krill oil although calamari oil has the highest level of DHA and EPA. One good thing about algae is that they can synthesize DHA and EPA naturally. Algae-derived DHA is also approved for infant formulas, fruit juices, soy milk, cooking oil, sauces and bottled capsule supplements. Most algae supplements are extracted from algae without using hexane. It is a clean, safe and free of ocean borne contaminants.
These are the best alternatives to fish oil. Take your pick that will fit your preference and lifestyle. Consult your physician about these supplements to make sure that no complications or allergies will result in taking these supplements.
